The Case of Ruth López, El Salvador’s Foreign Agents Law, and Cristosal’s suspension of operations in El Salvador
Who is Ruth López?
What happened?
The foreign agents law
Why it matters
Ruth’s case is not an isolated incident; it reflects a wider human rights crisis in El Salvador. Under the government’s ongoing state of exception, more than 85,000 people have been detained, many without formal charges or access to legal counsel.
Her imprisonment marks a turning point in the government’s repression of those who defend justice, expose corruption, and demand accountability. Ruth’s story has become a symbol of political persecution under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, showing how lawyers, journalists, and activists are being criminalized simply for speaking the truth.
On July 17, 2025, Cristosal made the painful but necessary decision to suspend its operations in El Salvador. This was not a retreat from our mission but a step to protect our staff and the people we serve in the face of escalating repression, the collapse of judicial independence, and direct threats to our safety.
Even amid this forced relocation, Cristosal remains steadfast in its mission, now operating from Guatemala and Honduras to continue defending victims, protecting civic space, and standing with those who refuse to be silenced.
Today, Ruth remains cut off from her family and legal team, her health and safety uncertain. Her detention stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect human rights defenders and to restore judicial independence in El Salvador.
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